The Journal-World sent a seven-question survey to each school board candidate running for the four seats worth a four-year term. Seven people filed for those seats. The four winners will be determined in the April 7, 2015 general election. Read candidate profiles and questionnaires here.

• Bob Byers, 60, served on the board from 2009 to 2012. He was appointed to the board in June 2014 following the resignation of Keith Diaz Moore. Byers is an administrator for the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

What makes you the right candidate for the school board?

There is number of things that makes me the right candidate for one of the vacancies on the school board. First of all is my willingness to serve and my history of working on children’s issues with in this community. The fact that all of my career as a social workers has been spent working with kids and families, the majority of which was in this community. Then there is my history of service to the district. My work on the district’s Equity Council for several years and my serving on the school board for a four-year term. My current willingness to file (for a vacant seat) when a board member resigned. Then there is my knowledge and experience in school finance and a understanding of budgeting in children’s services.

What issues should the school board focus on in the coming years?

The issues confronting a school board change almost daily. Today the biggest issue is budgeting. How to withstand an attack on public education and not allow it to negatively effect education within the district? How do you support the district employees in light of impending budget short falls? Continue working on Common Core and educating the community about its importance and how it prepares the students to succeed educationally. Continue to improve district facilities and do the upgrades where needed.

How should the board address the budget issues it faces because of state cuts?

By involvement of the community in identifying the most important service. Utilizing student groups, parents, district staff to assist in identifying those things that are most important to education within the Lawrence school district. Then let that information guide the board’s decision regarding what cuts to make. =Do this as soon as possible so that district reserves are not wasted maintaining things that may not be among those things that are viewed as key to the district.

Are Lawrence students shortchanged in any aspect of their education?

No. Lawrence school district provides the finest educational opportunity within Kansas, if not the country. With our new facility upgrades and technical improvements, the districts is second to none. The district, with the addition of the (College and Career Center), will be able to offer educational programing to all students.

Do you support Common Core standards? Why or why not?

I support Common Core. So much of the argument against Common Core is around how it was developed. That does not change that it is a good idea. My belief is that Common Core forces public education to provide our youth with more than just learning to read, write and do arithmetic. It incorporates the need for students to understand what they are learning and then to apply it to the real world. It combines the use of technology and hand-on teaching to educate. This approach makes for a student that leaves our district better able to succeed in society.

Should teachers have tenure rights? Is it “too hard” to fire teachers with tenure?

Yes. Teachers should have tenure rights. It should be used to reward our best and most creative teachers for their service. It isn’t tenure that makes it hard to fire teachers. It is more often the (lack) of clarity in the disciplinary system that makes it hard. The often lack of clear standards set out by which to judge performance.

Do you support moving school board elections to November in even numbered years and/or making the elections partisan?

I support leaving it as it is currently. Moving the election and or making it partisan will limit a large number of people who may want to run for a board position from running. Groups such as state employees, military (personnel), if partisan, would not be able to run. Federal employees would as well be prohibited. As for moving the election to match the general elections it would serve to take away all focus from school board elections.

More 2015 Lawrence school board election coverage

• Candidate profiles and questionnaires